Just ahead of the CBS All Acces premiere of Star Trek: Picard, Patrick Stewart is already pondering what's next for him after his role as Jean-Luc Picard. Despite his love for the Star Trek franchise and his turn on The Next Generation, Stewart wants the future to hold something more for him than more Picard.
Speaking with Variety, Stewart reminisced about his time on The Next Generation and how much respect he had for the mythology Gene Rodenberry created, despite their differences. However, he noted his reprisal as Picard will be different and, as much as he enjoys embodying the famed Enterprise captain, he knows he can't do it forever.
"I’ve been doing some really interesting work for the last few years," Stewart said, recalling when The Next Generation first premiered. "There was not a corner of my life, public, private, that wasn’t touched by this sudden transformation. And I so enjoyed it. X-Men, Star Trek and then, having come back 18 months ago to do Picard, I’ve just ... God, this is going to be difficult to say. It’s wonderful work, but it’s not enough. The challenge is great, but I want something bigger."
Although it may sound like Stewart has one foot out of the Star Trek door, Picard has already been picked up for a 10-episode second season, for which he is already brainstorming ideas. Stewart is the executive producer for the show, as well as a contributing writer.
Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera and Harry Treadaway. The series premieres Jan. 23 on CBS All Access.